Proclaiming the Gospel, Mike Gendron: A historic interfaith covenant was signed in the Middle East on February 4 of this year. Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, considered to be the most important imam in Sunni Islam, arrived at the signing ceremony in Abu Dhabi with Pope Francis “hand in hand in a symbol of interfaith brotherhood.” But this wasn’t just a ceremony for Catholics and Muslims.
The signing of this covenant was done in front of a global audience of religious leaders from Christianity, Islam, Judaism and other faiths: There was a concerted effort to make sure all of the religions of the world were represented at this gathering. As the world’s two largest religions converge we can only wonder if this will be the catalyst for the prophesied one-world religion. At first glance, the two faiths appear to be vastly different, but under close inspection, they have ten common bonds that help facilitate their convergence.
1. Both esteem and honor Mary – Muslims and Catholics both call her, “Our Lady” and venerate her as a pure and holy saint …
2.Both Seek Messages from Apparitions of Mary – Muslims and Catholics are flocking to apparition sites to receive messages from Mary.
3. Both Are Anti-Semitic – The Vatican has issued over 100 anti-semitic documents and taught the Jews should be cursed because they killed Christ.
4. Both Embrace Another Jesus – Catholicism has a counterfeit Jesus, who returns to the earth every day at the beckoned call of Catholic priest, to be transubstantiated into a lifeless piece of bread …
5. Both Seek World Dominion – Both religions rule with an autocratic government and have a history of forced conversions, and killing those who oppose them …
6. Both Deny the Authority of Scripture – The pagan beliefs of both religions stand opposed to the Bible …
8. Both Take Pilgrimages to Obtain Favor from God …
9. Both Have Human Mediators – Catholics rely on the priesthood to dispense salvation through sacraments and seek Mary to intercede with God on their behalf …
10. Both Have a Works-Righteousness Salvation Read details on all 10 points HERE
Opinion: In his latest poll question on the Prophecy Today website, Jimmy DeYoung asks “Do you believe that these two religiosities (Catholicism and Islam) could be the one world religion foretold in Revelation 17?”
Out of over 500 responses, readers answered: 45.5% yes, 4.1% no and 50.4% not sure.
Growing up in Catholic schools and afterward, I carried with me the teaching that one must be Catholic to get to heaven. It was not until a trip from Dallas to San Diego in October 2000 that a stranger who sat next to me on the flight and saw the Bible on my lap explained the difference between Justification and Sanctification (Eph. 2:8-9).
My new friend was a teacher at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. My life changed that day forever. A few years later, a passion for understanding Bible prophecy that was once a only a mystery, began.
